Improvement in fire-arms



B. F. J OSLYN.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented Oct. 8, 1861.

N.PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGHAPHER, WASHXNGTDN, C.

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BENJAMIN F. JOSLYN, OF VVORGESTER, MASSAGHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE=ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,435, dated October 8, 1861.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. J OSLYN, of "Worcester, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to devices which, although applicable to the construction of firearms generally, are especially well adapted to such as have been constructed for loading from the outer end of the barrel, but have to be converted into breech-loaders; and my improvements consist, first, in a breech hinged to the end of the barrel and construct-ed substantially as set forth hereinafter, so that its upper portion may fit over an enlargement on the end of the barrel in a manner which renders the said breech incapable of moving longitudinally when the cartridge is discharged;

secondly, in a device, described hereinafter, for retaining the lower portion of the breech in its proper position in respect to the end of the barrel; and, thirdly, in a device for locking the breech to the barrel and readily releasing it therefrom. V

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a plan view of the breech and part of the barrel of a fire-arm with my improvements; Fig. 2, a side view, partly in section, looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2; Fig. 3, an end view in which the breech is moved away from the barrel; Fig. 4:, the same as Fig. 3, with the breech closed; Fig. 5, a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 2; and Fig. 6, a view of the inside of the movable breech.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents a portion of the.barrel, and B the movable breech of my improved fire-arm, the former being provided with a tongue or projection, a, to be secured to the stock. On the rear end of the barrel an enlargement or broad collar, 6, (seen in Fig. 2,) is formed, so as to present an abrupt shoulder at the point 00, and from the side of this enlargement project the two lugs d and d, to which is hinged the movable breech B, the projection f of the latter fitting snugly between the said lugs. The portion h of the movable breech is arranged to fit accurately over the rear end of the barrel and to inclose one-half or thereabout of its circumference, as seen in Fig. 5, the concave under side of the. portion h of the breech being recessed, so as to receive the enlargement or collar e of the barrel and having a shoulder, 3 for bearing against the shoulder a: above alluded to as being formed by the said enlargement. The portion z of the movable breech B is of the form best .observed on reference to Fig. 6, so as to entirely cover the end of the barrel, and the-lower end of the portion i is formed for fitting into a recess in the tongue at at the point where the latter meets the barrel, as well as for fitting on each side of the said tongue. In the present instance the portion i of the breech is recessed on the inside for the reception of the head or flange of a metallic cartridg'e, D, the

recess being of the peculiar curved form represented in Fig. 6, so that the breech can be moved down over the end of the'barrel and back again without being interrupted by the head of the cartridge. A nipple, t, is screwed into the breech in such a position as to afford a direct communication with the cartridge. The breecl is provided with a lug or projection, It, and near the latter, with an orifice for receiving a pin, a, on the spring m which is secured tothe under side ofthe barrel, the upper end of the spring being so bent and so situated in respect to the projection 70 that when the latter is grasped by the finger and thumb prior to the moving of the breech away from the end of the barrel the spring may be readily moved back and the pin it consequent- 1y released from the notch of the breech by pressing the thumb against the bent end of the spring, and this without removing the. thumb andfinger from their hold on the pro-, jection k. When the breech is moved away from the barrel, as seen in Fig. 3, and shown by red lines, Fig. 1, the bore of the barrel is exposed for the free admission of the metallic cartridge, and when the breech is moved down over the end of the barrel it becomes, as it were, a part of the same, inasmuch as it is effectually prevented from moving longitudinally by the shoulderzy bearing against the shoulder as and by the lower end of the portion 73 of the breech fitting into the recess of the tongue at of the barrel, so that the breech is held ilnmovably to the barrel when the discharge of the cartridge takes places.

Although my invention is applicable to rifles, shot-guns, and fire-arms generally, it is especially well adapted to such fire-arms as have been previously arranged for loading from the outer end of the barrel, but have to be converted into breech-loaders, as the barrel can be readily screwed into or otherwise attached to the enlargement or broad collar 6 which is attached to or forms a part of the tongue a.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The breech B, hinged to the end of the barrel and constructed, substantially as set forth, so as to fit over the enlargement e on the end of the barrel, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

2. Forming a notch in the tongue a, near its junction with the enlargement e of the barrel, and so forming the lower end of the portion t of the hinged breech that it shall fit to the notch as well as on each side of the tongue, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The hinged breech with its projection 75, in combination with the bent spring m and its pin a, the whole being arranged as set forth, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

B. F. J OSLYN. Witnesses:

S. B. I. GODDARD, J. Q. ADAMS. 

